14:45 Curragh

Saturday 22 May 2021

All13:4514:1514:4515:2015:5516:2517:0017:30

Weatherbys Ireland Greenlands Stakes (Group 2)

Off time: 14:45 | Winning time: 1m 13.06s

(8)

Glen Shiel²¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-8| J: Hollie Doyle| T: A Watson| OR: 117| CD

7/4

Very smart gelding. C&D winner. 16/1, didn't need to improve to win 16-runner Champions Sprint Stakes at Ascot (6f, soft) by nose from Brando, all out. Off 7 months. Has to be taken seriously.

Form: 121121-

(4)

Gustavus Weston⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Gary Carroll| T: J G Murphy| OR: 98| CD

14/1

Useful gelding. C&D winner. 12/1, below form 7 lengths sixth of 10 to Logo Hunter in listed race at Naas (5f, heavy) 6 days ago. Needs to step up to play a prominent role here.

Form: 553-566

(2)

Indigo Balance⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: S Foley| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 106| BF| CD

8/1

Career best when winning 10-runner handicap at Tipperary (5f, good to soft) in April. Not in same form tackling heavy ground at Naas (5f) 6 days ago but he is effective at 6f.

Form: 60/4-218

(12)

Laugh A Minute²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: G M Ryan| T: A McGuinness| OR: 106| D

12/1

Smart gelding. 1 win from 3 runs this year. Latest win at Cork in April. 2¾ lengths seventh of 9 to Mooneista in listed race (3/1) at Naas (5f, good) 26 days ago, unsuited by drop in trip.

Form: 042-417

(3)

Make A Challenge^p⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: James J Doyle| T: D Hogan| OR: 106| CD

9/1

Smart sort on his day, winning 4 times last year (including over C&D). Creditable efforts first 2 starts this season but some way below best in a Naas listed event 6 days ago. Bounce back needed.

Form: 584-347

(10)

Nordic Passage^t¹⁶²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: Donagh O'Connor| T: J F Levins| OR: 94| CD

100/1

Useful gelding. C&D winner. 22/1, last of 12 in handicap at Dundalk (6f) in December, missing break. Subsequent break may have perked him up but this no easy task on return.

Form: 134090-

(5)

Smash Williams^t²⁸⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 9-5| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 100| CD

40/1

C&D winner. Eleven runs since last win in 2018. Below form 7¼ lengths eighth of 13 to Current Option in listed race at Cork (7f, good, 28/1). Off 9 months. Must improve.

Form: 0/34658-

(6)

Speak In Colours^t³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: S M Crosse| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 108| CD

15/2

Smart horse who won this race 12 months ago. Left with too much to do when fifth in Group 3 Gladness Stakes (7f) last month and expected to be closer to form here.

Form: 460-205

(11)

Urban Beat^v⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: Ben Coen| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 104| CD

12/1

Smart gelding. C&D winner. 13/2 and blinkered for 1st time, below form 4¾ lengths fourth of 10 to Logo Hunter in listed race at Naas (5f, heavy) 6 days ago. Visor back on.

Form: 2521-54

(9)

Sonaiyla^t,v²¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: W J Lee| T: P Twomey| OR: 109| CD

4/1

C&D winner. 12/1, below form 4½ lengths tenth of 16 to Glen Shiel in Champions Sprint Stakes at Ascot (6f, soft) in October. Has gone well fresh previously and returns with yard in great nick. Claims.

Form: 1/11230-

Non-Runners

(7)

Royal Commando⁵⁶

Weight: 9-5| Age: 4

T: C Hills J: K Shoemark

(1)

Summerghand¹⁰

Weight: 9-5| Age: 7

T: D O'Meara J: Colin Keane

Forecasts

Glen Shiel (7/4), Sonaiyla (4/1), Royal Commando (7/1), Speak In Colours (15/2), Indigo Balance (8/1), Make A Challenge (9/1), Summerghand (10/1), Urban Beat (12/1), Laugh A Minute (12/1), Gustavus Weston (14/1), Smash Williams (40/1), Nordic Passage (100/1)

GLEN SHIEL enjoyed a fine 2020, winning five times with his year culimnating in success in Group 1 company on Champions Day at Ascot in the autumn. He gets the nod to concede weight all round and come out on top on return. Last year's winner Speak In Colours, Royal Commando and Sonaiyla are a trio of others fancied to be in the mix.